Trench-pick



R. G. HALL.

TRENCH PICK. 7 MPLIFATION FILED JULY 22. 191B.

1 23,630. 7 Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

i If

ATTORNEYS.

unrrnn STATES PATENT ornron ROBERT e. HALL, or PORTLAND, OREGON.

. TRENCH-ZEIGK.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, ROBERT- G. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trenol1-Picks, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to trench picks, and more particularly to a pick adapted to be thrust'into the ground by the weight of the person using the same, as is a hand spade, instead of being struck into the ground by a swinging movement, as are the usual hand picks now in use.

There are many advantages in such a pick, the principal ones of which are the 'elimination of the sound of the blow struck by the usual hand pick, my improved hand pick being noiseless in use, thus making it possible to use the same in close proximityto the enemy without alarming lnm. My 1mprov'ed pick can also be used wlth great eiiiciency with. the user in a crouching position, a

and without the necessity of swinging the pick above the head 1n order to get a forceful blow, as is required with the usual pick.

It also has the advantage of use in close quarters with greater ease and efficiency, as in tunnels and dug-outs. It is also possible to work faster with the foot pick, for there is less lost motion and the entire weight of the body can be quickly put on to the pick and its manipulation is under full control of the hands and foot of the user. My pick also makes a very eflective weapon, where necessary, being used much as is a bayonet in close fighting.

In order to fully illustrate and describe my improved trench pick, I have shown one practical form thereof on the accompanying drawings which I will now describe.

Figure 1 is a side elevation thereof; and V Fig. 2 is an edge View thereof.

My improved pick comprises a pick point or spike 1, a handle 2, and a foot rest 3. The handle is joined to the spike l by an offset portion 2, whereby to'make possible the positioning of the foot rest 3 directly over the pick spike 1, thus. giving a direct longitudinal thrust to the spike 1 when the weight of the body is placed upon the foot rest 3. The handle 2, in this preferred form Specification of Letters Patent.

earth.

Patented Dec. 2, rare.

Application filed. July 22, 1918. Serial No. 246,081.

of the invention, it will be seen, is in direct alinement with the pick spike 1, thus any weight applied to the handle is also transmitted in direct lines to force the pick spike into the ground. Under the foot rest 3 is a corner piece or plate 4:, made sharp on its edge, whereby it will operate to cut roots, or other obstructions, as the pick is forced into the earth. The lower end of the handle, below the foot rest, is also formed into a similar cutting edge, as at 5. These bracket-like portions or corners 4E and 5, also form abroad bearing to prevent the upper end of the pick spike from cutting into the ground when the pick handle is forced downwardly toward the earth in a prying movement, after the spike has been thrust into the The pick can be turned so as to use the right foot, or the left foot 011 the foot rest, as may be most convenient to the user. Should the pick be used as a weapon, in

' emergency, the foot rest serves as a guard for the hand which grasps the pick adjacent thereto.

I am aware that slight changes can be made in my foot or trench pick, as here shown for purposes of illustration, and I do not, therefore, limit the inventlon to the form shown, except as I may be limited by handle proper, a foot rest extended across the top of said spike with its attached end anchored in the offset portion of said handle, and a corner piece under said foot rest in the angle between said foot rest and the upper end of said spike, said corner piece being sharpened on its outer edge, substantially as shown and described.

Signed at Eugene, Lane county, Oregon, this 13 day of July, 1918.

ROBERT G. HALL. In presence of-- J. M. DEVERS, Bnnmon E. CAGLEY. 

